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Heat Beat Shaq and the Suns
Dwyane Wade was on a mission. “I was on a mission to bounce back from my last game,” Wade said. His 12 points against the Blazers on Wednesday night came in an embarrassing 106-68 loss. The Heat were looking to avenge their close loss at the AAA back on November 12th to the Blazers but the host team came out firing in the first quarter scorching the Heat for 37 points and never looking back.
For both teams last night, it was a reunion of sorts – with the ‘big fella’ Shaq meeting up with his old team the Heat while Shawn Marion came back to Phoenix. Neither factored too strongly in the game, instead maintaining a complimentary role. Dwyane Wade, however, took over by scoring 43 points leading the Heat to a 107-92 victory over the Nash-less Suns.
“My shot was there and I just wanted to focus tonight. I focused all the way through tonight. I haven’t been doing that (recently).”
Although Erik Spoelstra acknowledged the win was made easier without Nash’s presence, this is a good bounce-back win for the Heat and Dwyane Wade. Now 1-1 on this 5 game west coast road trip, the Heat will go to LA tonight to face the Clippers, where the Heat will get another look at Zach Randolph, whom was traded from the Knicks to the Clippers. That game is scheduled for tip-off at 10:30pm EST.
Heat Open Tough Road Trip Without Marion
Shawn Marion, the backbone of the Heat defense and its leading rebounder currently, is going to miss tonight’s game open due to attending a family funeral. Our hearts and thoughts go out to Shawn Marion for his loss at this time of year, when most everyone is giving thanks and reflecting on their lives.
The Heat, in the meantime, will look to avenge a tough 104-96 loss against the Blazers they suffered back at the AAA on Nov. 12th. That game saw the return of Greg Oden, although he didn’t blow anyone away in his first game back since his season opening injury. The Heat, however, showed that their lack of size would be a point of contention against larger teams like Portland.
The Heat will have to rely heavily on the game of Dwayne Wade, who is off to an MVP start to the season as he looks to redeem himself to his fans and his critics after last season – in which he came back rushed from knee and shoulder injuries. Wade will surely be highlighted along with the Blazers’ Brandon Roy, a “poor man’s” Wade in that the guard can score, rebound and get assists while setting up the offense of the Blazers. In Roy, the Blazers have a young superstar in the making that can help guide the rest of this young and talented bunch to the playoffs.
Tonight, however, the Heat will look to derail the Blazers who are currently 5-0 at home as the Heat start a tough 5 game west coast road trip.
Heat Face Pacers Tonight
The Pacers roll into town with a 5-6 record and are looking to get back into the playoffs. The Heat, with a 6-6 record, are also trying to regain their playoff pedigree. Both teams were fixtures in the NBA playoffs for the Eastern Conference over the last several seasons, but have found their fortunes changed.
While the Heat have drastically improved their talent pool through this past draft, the Pacers have been chipping away at their roster shortcomings while also losing their main architect, Donnie Walsh, to the Knicks.
As for who is left, the Heat can expect a heavy dose of TJ Ford and Marquis Daniels while featuring Danny Granger, who is currently scoring just over 24 points a game. Forward Troy Murphy is a hard working, hustling forward that has gotten 5 double-doubles on the year. Rasho Nesterovic rounds out the roster at center.
Follow the game with us on the Miami Heatwave forum.
Heat Fall to Raptors
Down by 17 points, the Heat looked dead in the third quarter. Then Dwyane Wade turned it up a notch.
Probably the strongest willed player in the game, Wade was able to mount a comeback for the Heat that brought them all the way back to a one point lead on his way to a 40 point, 11 assist, 5 block night.
Ultimately, it was the Raptors three point shooting that gave them the edge tonight: they shot 9/13 from downtown for a .692%.
Yet it wasn’t as if the Heat didn’t fight for this game. While Wade lead the charge, there were contributions from all over the Heat roster. Daequan Cook played solid defense and hit a few timely shots to keep the Heat close at critical moments. Chris Quinn, too, hit a few key shots but was able to stay in front of Jose Calderon and keep him out of the painted area. Shawn Marion, however, had arguably his best statistical game this season as a member of the Heat as he dropped in 20 points and 14 rebounds, providing a strong complimentary game for Wade as they made their amazing 23-7 run in the third quarter.
The Heat stand at 6-6 and drop only their 2nd loss at home on the season.
Heat Take On Wizards
Dwyane Wade was expected to sit out tonight’s game against the Wizards with a bad ankle, but he gave it a go. The Heat currently lead the Wizards at the half 43-41 with Wade leading the way with 9 points.
Wade is determined to play the whole reason and cites his recent advertising campaign. “I want to play the whole season,” said Wade who was a game time decision tonight. He missed Monday’s practice, sitting out to rest his ankle.
In other injury news, Shawn Marion is playing for the first time in a while without his mask that protected his broken nose.
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